Creating enabling environment for CSO development in Serbia

Is a one-year project implemented by Civic Initiatives in cooperation with the Balkan Community Initiative Fund and financed by the British Embassy in Belgrade through Global Opportunity Fund.

The project purpose is improving legal, financial, fiscal and institutional framework for CSO development and functioning in Serbia.

The following products of the project activities should be sufficient to deliver that purpose:

• 1. Improved legal framework for CSO functioning: adopted new Law on Associations and Law on Endowments, Funds and Foundations, as well as Law on Volunteering by the Serbian Parliament; key governmental officials trained about the new NGO Law and Law on Volunteering; brochures on Law on Associations and Law on Volunteering printed and distributed to CSOs, ministries and other interested parties.
• 2. Enhanced financial and fiscal framework: developed transparent procedures and guidelines for governmental funding for CSOs, adopted amendments to the Property Tax law, to the Corporate Income Tax law and in Citizens Income Tax law.
• 3. Created institutional framework for cooperation between the government and CSOs (NGOs and local non profit funds and foundations): written document of cooperation with CSOs adopted by the Serbian Government; established Office for Cooperation between the Government and CSOs (NGOs and local non profit funds and foundations); allocated funds for the Office work within 2009 National budget; initiated National Strategy for Development of Civil Society in Serbia by March 2009.

Planned activities within the project are:

• Continuous analysis of legal documents dealing with institutional, legal and fiscal framework for CSOs (Constitution, Tax Laws, new NGO Law, Law on Voluntarism, Law on Endowments, Funds and Foundations, Lottery money) with adequate policy proposals developed and submitted to relevant bodies
• Organizing working groups of legal experts, with regional/UK expertise involved
• Organizing public discussions on Law on funds and foundations
• Organizing round tables on new Law on volunteering
• Preparation of amendments to CSO-related Laws
• Regular meetings with government officials to:
• discuss joint actions in the process of changing civil society/NGO related policies
• discuss actions in the process of changing tax incentives for local/corporate giving
• advocate for the changes in the CSO-related laws
• Organizing presentations on the new NGO Law
• Printing and distribution of two brochures covering the NGO Law and Law on Volunteering
• Organizing round tables related to tax/fiscal environment and transparent government funding
• Organizing round tables on institutional mechanisms of cooperation between the Government and civil society
• Regular media campaigning, promotion and monitoring (press announcements, press conferences, articles, interviews etc)
• Regular update of FENS, CI & BCIF web sites for disseminating information about the CSOs, funds, foundations work